Thames Christian Private School

• Location: London, England,
• Year of foundation: 2000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Thames Christian School is a private coeducational school offering academic programs for students aged 11 to 18.

Despite its short history, the school has already won recognition among national rating agencies. A modern approach to the educational process, individual attention to each pupil, extensive opportunities for extracurricular development allowed the school to take a place among the best secondary educational institutions in London.

By enrolling at Thames Christian School, students receive not only a quality education, but also personal development. The teaching staff, represented by qualified specialists, carefully monitors the academic success of students, offering additional classes, mentoring services, and career support for high school students. Along with these opportunities, students can take part in an extensive list of extracurricular activities: from sports sections, creative circles to volunteering, scientific seminars.

The outstanding performance of graduates who score high in the final exams confirms the school's commitment to all-round development.

Career advice that is diverse and individual for each student helps inspire and guide Sixth Form students as they think about their future. Pupils are encouraged to consider the benefits of higher education, apprenticeships and other options – this includes support and advice on courses and institutions, guidance on the UCAS application process. Students of Thames Christian School have the opportunity to communicate with representatives of a variety of professions through work experience, the school's job fair, and invited speakers. Carefully selected mentors who provide one-on-one counseling guide students in a more personalized way.

Life skills development courses are available for all students, which will definitely be useful to them outside the educational institution:

• IT skills, including spreadsheets,
• Social media management, digital footprint,
• Personal Finance, Budgeting,
• Cooking, nutrition,
• Self-defence
• First aid
• Practical everyday skills (including cooking).

Thames Christian School teaches at two stages of school education - Senior and Sixth Form, that is, from grades 7 to 13.

Thames Christian School does not have residencies, education takes place only in a full-time format.

During lunch breaks, all students meet in the cafeteria, where a balanced menu of hot dishes, salads, healthy snacks and drinks awaits them every day. Chefs regularly change the list of dishes offered to diversify the diet.

The curricula of academic programs include classes in performing arts and visual arts, several sports. In their free time, students are taught in the format of sections and circles, electives for everyone who wants to develop their talent and abilities. 

Creative circles provide children with the opportunity to develop interesting skills, creativity, discover talent and show it not only to the Thames Christian School community, but also to invited professionals, visitors to the exhibition halls cooperating with the school.  Students use a wide range of equipment, including silk-screen printing, acrylic and oil paints, ceramics and linocuts to bring their ideas to life. The newly created Thames Theatre Company provides students with a chance to try their hand at directing, writing scripts, creating costumes, and scenery. Visits to galleries, visits to contemporary designers expand their understanding of art and related professions – students take part in the Association of Independent Schools Art Competition with great success both regionally and nationally, giving them an additional bonus to their personal portfolio.

Students are encouraged to participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible, including the school choir, instrumental and jazz ensembles. Specialized teachers offer private lessons in a variety of musical instruments: piano, drums, guitar, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and vocals. The most daring, successful members of music clubs perform at campus events solo or as part of groups. The end of the year is always marked by a musical performance: Anything Goes, 42nd Street, Smokey Joe's Café and Calamity Jane are all musicals directed by students and professional musical theater artists.

Physical education is also included in the compulsory curriculum and is taught optionally, all students participate in various trainings that provide regular opportunities to represent the school in sports. Studying takes place in three areas: traditional team, individual and amateur sports. Dozens of physical activity areas are open on campus, including:

• Soccer
• Rugby
• Netball
• Badminton
• Athletics
• Tennis
• Table tennis
• Self-defence
• Fitness.

At the beginning of Year 7, students travel to Norfolk for three days, where they will engage in rock climbing, raft building, and gain knowledge about wilderness survival, the importance of teamwork. At the beginning of Year 10, pupils attend a live-in camp to reflect on their approach to GCSE and expand their study skills, they take part in team-building activities such as climbing and rope challenges.

Students have the opportunity to practice their language skills, visit art galleries, museums, and other attractions through overseas travel. Recent trips are the following:

• Geographical scientific trip to the Bay of Naples in Italy to see Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum,
• Iceland, where students studied the glacial landscape,
• Barcelona – for culture and art,
• Skiing in Austria.

Upcoming trips include a cultural visit to Rome, a geographical trip to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Sixth Form students have the opportunity to take part in a trip to Tanzania, to the small town of Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria.

• Excellent inspection results of the ISI National School Inspectorate,
• Individual approach to each student,
• Comprehensive development of students through a balanced curriculum, extracurricular opportunities,
• A strong teaching staff offering additional support as needed,
• The new campus, which opened in 2024, received the National Award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA),
• Teaching in small classes allows teachers to pay attention to each student.

From 2024, the Thames Christian School learning area is located in a new building in central London. The building was built in accordance with the highest environmental standards, thanks to which it received an "Excellent" rating from BREEM.

The academic building, connected by open passages, includes infrastructure for study, creativity, sports and recreation. Each room has modern equipment, whether it is computers with design software, interactive whiteboards or kits for scientific experiments, research.

• Lecture Classes,
• Specialized scientific laboratories,
• Music classes,
• Dance Studio,
• Drama theater with professional sound, stage and lighting,
• Textile, art studios,
• Cooking class,
• Library
• Fully equipped carpentry workshops, STEAM,
• Multifunctional sports hall.

On the upper floors, classrooms equipped with 65-inch Clevertouch Impact Plus touch screens serve as recreation and event areas, while patios on the first, second and fifth floors are designed for walking, outdoor entertainment.

Some PE classes take place in the gymnasium, but the infrastructure of Falcon Park, Caius House, Battersea Sports Centre and Wandsworth Common is also used for larger sports, matches and games.

Students study in semesters - the academic year lasts from September to early July.

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: April-July.

There are seasonal holidays between semesters, classes are not held on weekends, national and international holidays. The weekly schedule includes lessons on weekdays: Monday to Friday, in the morning and lunchtime, followed by extracurricular activities.

There is no additional fee for state exams, textbooks, extracurricular activities, theater trips, participation in competitions, compulsory trips, field research. Approximate list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fee, deposit,
• Lunches
• Some extracurricular activities, such as traveling abroad,
• Individual/additional lessons in music and other areas,
• Individual academic support,
• Personal studying materials,
• School uniform,
• Personal expenses.

The first step will be to submit the completed application form along with the candidate's personal documents and a receipt of the application fee paid. Applicants will be asked to take an entrance test, which includes written and practical components, an interview with a senior member of the admissions committee. Based on the results of the entrance stages and subject to availability, candidates will be sent an official invitation to enroll, after which they must pay a deposit and arrive at the campus to start classes.

Thanks to a personal approach to each student, a balanced academic load, and comprehensive development, graduates achieve excellent results and receive invitations to enroll from leading universities in the UK, USA, and other countries. The list of higher schools that have accepted students of Thames Christian School includes:

• Jesus College Oxford,
• Queen Mary University of London,
• Bexley Grammar School,
• Northern School of Contemporary Dance,
• Trinity Laban,
• Ashcroft Technology Academy,
• Imperial College.

Applicants must provide:

• Personal documents: child's identity card, health insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Academic report card for the last year of study,
• Individual achievements, letters of recommendation.

The educational process takes place entirely in English, so the candidate must have a level of at least B2. Knowledge of the English language, knowledge of the main subjects are tested at the entrance exams.

Thames Christian School is a comprehensive school with places for a small number of students with mild specific learning difficulties: dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia. If a child has special educational needs or a disability, their parents can sign up for an informal conversation with the admissions committee to discuss the possibility of studying.

Each year, scholarships are available to new students who enter the school at the beginning of grades 7, 9 or 12 – these awards are provided without taking into account the income of parents, usually up to 20% of the tuition fee. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, achievements in sports, music, or the performing arts.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision